Fireworks (1947)

Director:

Kenneth Anger

Writers:

(more)

Release Date:

10 October 1969 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Short

Plot:

Depicts a dream sequence about the brutal rape and torture of Anger himself (as a teenager) by a group of sailors on the street (after trying to pick one of them up).

Plot Keywords:

Sailor | Photograph | Rape | Gay Interest | Bathroom

Cast

Kenneth Anger	...	Dreamer
Gordon Gray	...	First Sailor
Bill Seltzer	...	Second Sailor

Directed by
Kenneth Anger

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kenneth Anger		uncredited

Film Editing by
Kenneth Anger		(uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chester Kessler	....	assistant camera

Distributors

• Fantoma (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Art House Video (Greece)
• Canyon Cinema
• Mystic Fire Video (video)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

20 min | Argentina:20 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente) | Portugal:13 min (Cinemateca Portuguesa)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Unrated

Trivia:

At the film's premiere in 1947 in Los Angeles were director James Whale and Dr Alfred Kinsey. The latter bought a copy of the film to keep in his archive. This marked the start of a lifelong friendship between the two, which even included Kenneth Anger taking part in some of Kinsey's research into male sexuality.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dreamer:[voice over narration] In Fireworks, I released all the explosive pyrotechnics of a dream. Inflammable desires dampened by day under the cold water of consciousness are ignited that night by the libertarian matches of sleep, and burst forth in showers of shimmering incandescence. These imaginary displays provide a temporary relief.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Anger Me (2006)

Well, isn't this special...

The short films of Kenneth Anger are certainly NOT for the casual film goer! The best way to describe them is avant-garde--and often make little sense, as they are not meant to be shown to the masses. Some are incredibly artistic--like filmed work of art. Some are really cheaply made and definitely look it. Regardless, they are a challenge to watch and I very strongly recommend you see them with his commentary activated. So why would I see these shorts? Well, in a recent interview I noticed that John Waters credits Anger for much of his inspiration. And, since I have seen all the films of Waters that are available (a couple very early ones aren't), it seems natural I'd give Anger's films a try. This and four other reviews are best on the DVD "Films of Kenneth Anger: Volume 1".

Fireworks is the first and definitely least short on the DVD. No matter what you think of the contents, the quality of the film is dubious, as it's rather grainy, the shots are often wobbly and it looks like a home movie camera was used (I truly think it was). Aethetically, it's awful. As for the story, there are so many possible interpretations. When I first saw it without the director's commentary, I thought it was a homo-erotic film about the conflict between the macho veneer of sailors (with their gay-bashing) and their own covert desires to engage in homosexual sex. I was surprised when Anger did NOT say this was the theme, but it was supposed to be the recreation of a dream he'd had some time ago. Still, there is a lot of erotic and violent imagery of semi-naked men as well as phallic imagery (often that is being destroyed). Frankly, it made my brain hurt and I was praying the rest of the shorts would get better--which they fortunately did!